Electric impulse generator



y 1946. LA VERN E. QUINNELL 2,400,262

ELECTRIC IMPULSE GENERATOR Filed June 24, 1945 I N V EN TOR. [a Vrmiz aazrm l BY %2 m fiZ/WwWMU Patented May 1 ELECTRIC lltIPULSE GENERATOR La Vern Edward Quinnell, Fort Wayne, Ind., as sis-nor to The Magnavox Company, Fort Wayne, hit, a corporation of Delaware Application June 24, 1943, Serial No. 492,092

1 Claim.

devices of this type.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure l is a view in cross section of a device embodying the invention;

rasped for manual actuation or for attachment minal clips providing means for connecting the Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the armature in a different position of operation; and

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device of Figure 1 but partially cut away to better illustrate the invention.

As shown in the drawing, the device embodying the invention may comprise a permanent magnet having north and south poles as indicated, the north pole being provided with a plate-like extension 4 and the south pole with a similar plate-like extension 8, the extensions 4 and 6 being made of soft iron or other material of high magnetic susceptibility. The magnet 2 and a frame or block 8 of wood or plastic material are clamped between and to the pole plates 4 and 6 by means of screws or bolts l0. Pole shoes I! and Marc secured in spaced relation to the inner surface of the pole plate 4, and a similar pair of pole shoes I6 and I8 are secured to the inner surface of the pole plate 6 in opposed and aligned relation to the pole shoes I? and I4. A hollow coil 20 is mounted between the opposed pairs of pole shoes, and an armature rod 22 extends through the coil and between opposite pole shoes. This armature is solely supported by the magnetic forces acting in gaps between the pole shoes and i held in the positions shown in the drawing by the magnetic holding force of the pole shoes with which it is in metalto-metal contact.

The armature is provided with a resilient operating handle 24 having the properties of a strong spring, the handle being secured at one end to the armature and at the other end toan operating member or grip 26, preferably having wings 28 extending laterally from the handle through slots or openings 30 in the frame or block 8 so that the member 26 may be conveniently coil to the electrical'load or energy absorbing device to be energized in response to the actua tion of the operating member 26. v a

It is evident that the magnetic circuit is closed when the armature22 contacts the poles M and I6, as in Figure l, and also when it contacts pole shoes 82 and it, as shown in Figure'2. When the armature shifts from one position to the other, the direction of flow of flux through the armature and the coil 20 is reversed and a voltage is developed in the coil. The handle 24 has the properties of a strong spring and consequently, when pressure is exerted on the grip to, energy is stored in the handle until the magnetic hold: ing force of the poles i4 and N is overcome and the armature is broken away from these pole shoes. The magnetic forces acting in theneld between the pole shoes, assisted by the spring handle, cause the armature to snap over into engagement with the pole shoes l2 and 18, as shown in Figure 2. This sudden reversal of fluxthrough the coil creates a voltage in the coil and. causes a flow of current to the external load connected to the clips 38. Any'pressure on the grip results in only one movement of the armature from one of its positions to the other and in order to obtain any further action an actuating force must be applied to the grip in the opposite direction to cause the armature to snap back to its first position.

This device is very compact and simple in con struction; the armature is solely supported by the magnetic forces acting in the field or gaps between the pole shoes, and the spring handle through which the actuating force is applied is attached only to the end of the armature and is solely supported by the armature, so that actuation of the armature therethrough causes the armature to snap from one position to the other, in which latter position it remains until an actuating force is applied in an opposite direction.

It will be evident from' the foregoing description that applicant has provided a simple device in which the armature may be snapped from one position to the other, so that the rate of change of flux occasioned by the movement of the arma- Changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacriflcing any of its attendant advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claim.

What I claim is An electric impulse generator comprising in combination a permanent magnet having two 10 pairs of poles, a tree snap acting armature rod to afford a high rate of change of the flux, maintained and supported during the snap action operation solely by the magnetic action 01' the poles,

a coil inductively coupled to said armature, and a free swinging energy storing spring operating handle rigidly fixed at one end tosaid armature and extending outwardly therefrom and solely supported by said armature for application of a force to store up energy in said spring handle member until the attractive force of the pair of poles with which the armature is then in engagement is overcome to assist the snap action of the armature from said one position into the other position in which the armature engages the other pain of poles. 

